Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU | G19AS00083

Opportunity Information: Apply for G19AS00083

This grant opportunity, titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU" (Funding Opportunity Number G19AS00083), is a US Geological Survey (USGS) discretionary research award offered through a cooperative agreement under CFDA 15.808. It was issued by the Department of the Interior, USGS, specifically through the Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NOROCK). The competition was created on July 8, 2019, with an original closing date of July 22, 2019. The funding is relatively small and targeted, with a single expected award and a maximum (award ceiling) of $27,025. Eligibility is limited to a CESU partner, reflected in the listing of eligible applicants as "Others" with details referenced in the opportunity's eligibility notes.

The core purpose of the project is to update and rigorously evaluate the current distribution of the Arizona Toad across a four-state region: New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada. The work focuses on surveying more than 100 historical locations where the species has previously been documented, plus more than 50 randomly selected sites that represent suitable habitat. By pairing historical occurrence locations with a randomized sample of potentially suitable areas, the project is designed to provide a statistically defensible picture of whether the species range has contracted, shifted, or otherwise changed over time, rather than relying only on anecdotal updates or opportunistic sightings.

This research is directly tied to a management and policy need because the Arizona Toad is identified as a candidate for listing under the US Endangered Species Act. The data produced through this work are intended to help the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) make a better-informed listing decision by improving the evidence base on where the species still occurs, where it may have disappeared, and how broad or fragmented its remaining distribution may be across the region.

Field and lab methods are meant to combine traditional amphibian survey approaches with modern molecular detection. The opportunity calls for a mix of calling surveys (listening for breeding calls), visual encounter surveys focused on potential breeding habitats, and environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling at survey sites. The announcement makes clear that not every method will be applied at every site, which suggests a flexible design where survey technique is matched to site conditions, timing, access, or expected detection probability. The eDNA component is emphasized as especially valuable because it can detect target species presence from water samples even when animals are difficult to observe directly, and because it can be used to evaluate multiple conservation concerns at the same time.

A notable element of the eDNA work is that it is not limited to simply detecting Arizona Toad. The samples are also intended to support simultaneous screening for other rare amphibians, invasive species, and pathogens that could threaten Arizona Toad populations. In practical terms, that implies the project is expected to generate information not only about where the toad is found, but also about ecological pressures and biological risks in the habitats being surveyed, such as the presence of invasive competitors or disease agents that might contribute to declines.

The expected deliverables are specific and applied. First, the awardee is expected to develop an Arizona Toad eDNA assay, explicitly including two primers and a probe, which indicates a targeted molecular detection tool suitable for sensitive and species-specific identification. Second, the awardee must produce a report that provides statistically valid estimates of distribution change based on historical observations, meaning the analysis should be structured to quantify change and uncertainty rather than simply listing detections and non-detections. Third, the project is expected to result in a peer-reviewed journal article, signaling that the work should meet scientific publication standards and contribute to the broader research literature while also meeting immediate agency decision-support needs.

• The Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 08, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 22, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $27,025.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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